1 John 2:3
in 1 John 2By this we can be sure that we have come to know Him: if we keep His commandments.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And hereby we know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
KJV
And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
⋯
This verse in 1 John 2
Commentary
3 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
And hereby we do know that we know him - To wit, by that which follows, we have evidence that we are truly acquainted with him, and with the requirements of his religion; that is, that we are truly his friends. The word “him” in this verse, seems to refer to the Saviour. On the meaning of the word “know,” see the notes at Joh 17:
This site's exposition
hereby we do know
on 1 John 2:3-4
Hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments opens the letter's long assurance vocabulary, ginosko meeting oida, knowledge as ongoing relationship confirmed by knowledge as settled fact. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar answers the secession's own boast directly, a claim of superior spiritual knowledge unaccompanied by obedience exposed as false at its root, the truth is not in him repeating chapter one's diagnosis of self-deceit.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
A careful conscientious obedience to his commands shows that the apprehension and knowledge of these things are graciously impressed upon the soul; and therefore it must follow in the reverse that he that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him,
The words behind it
12 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καὶ | kai | And | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἐν | en | by | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| τούτῳ | touto | this | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| γινώσκομεν | ginoskomen | we know | G1097 → | 221 times |
| ὅτι | hoti | that | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| ἐγνώκαμεν | egnokamen | we have come to know | G1097 → | 221 times |
| αὐτόν, | auton | Him, | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ἐὰν | ean | if | G1437 → | 352 times |
| τὰς | tas | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐντολὰς | entolas | commandments | G1785 → | 67 times |
| αὐτοῦ | autou | of Him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| τηρῶμεν.¶ | teromen | we shall keep. | G5083 → | 70 times |
καὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἐνby
enG1722 →2738 times
τούτῳthis
toutoG3778 →1381 times
γινώσκομενwe know
ginoskomenG1097 →221 times
ὅτιthat
hotiG3754 →1292 times
ἐγνώκαμενwe have come to know
egnokamenG1097 →221 times
αὐτόν,Him,
autonG846 →5565 times
ἐὰνif
eanG1437 →352 times
τὰςthe
tasG3588 →19766 times
ἐντολὰςcommandments
entolasG1785 →67 times
αὐτοῦof Him
autouG846 →5565 times
τηρῶμεν.¶we shall keep.
teromenG5083 →70 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
John 14:15If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
it leads to
- John 14:21–24
Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him.”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 2 John 1:6
And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the very commandment you have heard from the beginning, that you must walk in love.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 John 2:3–5
By this we can be sure that we have come to know Him: if we keep His commandments.
- 1 John 5:2–3
By this we know that we love the children of God: when we love God and keep His commandments.
- John 15:10–14
If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love.
- John 14:21–24
Through
John 15:10If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love.
it leads to
- John 14:15
If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 John 5:3
For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome,
- 1 John 3:21–24
Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God,
- John 14:15
Where this verse is studied
On this page
By subject
Obedience35 verses
About 1 John
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.